Results 21,881-21,900 of 40,330 for speaker:Leo Varadkar

Written Answers — Department of Social Protection: Social Insurance (26 May 2016)

Leo Varadkar: The new partnership Government aims to create an additional 200,000 jobs by 2010, including 135,000 outside of Dublin. This will be achieved by continuing and enhancing a supportive environment for enterprise and employment. In particular, the role of entrepreneurs and the self-employed will be central to this ambition. The new programme agreed with our partners in Government contains a...

Written Answers — Department of Social Protection: Rent Supplement Scheme (26 May 2016)

Leo Varadkar: Supports in relation to housing and the provision of financial supports, such as the rent supplement scheme currently supporting some 56,800 recipients at a cost of €267 million in 2016, are a key priority for Government and are being considered by the Cabinet Committee on Housing in the context of the Programme for Government housing commitments. My Department is currently examining...

Written Answers — Department of Social Protection: Carer's Allowance Appeals (26 May 2016)

Leo Varadkar: Carer's allowance (CA) is a means-tested social assistance payment, made to persons who are providing full-time care and attention to a person who has a disability such that they require that level of care. The person concerned was refused carer’s allowance on 28 January 2016 on the grounds that he was not providing full-time care and attention as required. The person appealed this...

Written Answers — Department of Social Protection: Carer's Allowance Appeals (26 May 2016)

Leo Varadkar: Carer’s allowance (CA) was in payment to the person concerned from 15 April 2010 to 27 January 2016. The person concerned was notified on 24 March 2016 that her payment had been terminated as she had failed to co-operate with a social welfare inspector (SWI) during the course of an investigation, contrary to the rules governing the scheme. The person concerned has recently...

Written Answers — Department of Social Protection: Rent Supplement Scheme Payments (26 May 2016)

Leo Varadkar: The Rent Supplement claim for the client concerned was recently awarded as an exceptional measure due to extenuating family circumstances. As this claim is awarded in excess of the maximum applicable limits, it will be subject to ongoing review by the Department. I hope this clarifies the matter for the Deputy.

Written Answers — Department of Social Protection: Jobseeker's Allowance Eligibility (26 May 2016)

Leo Varadkar: The person concerned attended their Intreo Office on the 24th of May 2016 to make a new application for jobseekers allowance. They have been requested to return additional information and once this is received a decision can be made on their application.

Written Answers — Department of Social Protection: Rent Supplement Scheme Eligibility (26 May 2016)

Leo Varadkar: The person concerned had not advised the department that there had been any change to their monthly rent. Once they have submitted the documentation required to assess the new rent charged, the Rent Unit concerned will be in a position to make a decision on the application for a rent increase. I trust this clarifies the matter for the Deputy.

Written Answers — Department of Social Protection: Domiciliary Care Allowance Data (26 May 2016)

Leo Varadkar: I am advised by the Social Welfare Appeals Office that, to date, no appeal in respect of disallowance of domiciliary care allowance has been received from the person concerned. If the person concerned is not satisfied with the Deciding Officer’s decision she can ask for the decision to be reviewed by writing to the domiciliary care allowance section of the Department. In order to make...

Written Answers — Department of Social Protection: Rent Supplement Scheme Applications (26 May 2016)

Leo Varadkar: The Department has not, to date, received an application for Rent Supplement from the client concerned. The client should forward an application to be assessed for entitlement to Rent Supplement to the Mid-Leinster Rent Unit, PO Box 11758, Dublin 24. I hope this clarifies the matter for the Deputy.

Written Answers — Department of Social Protection: Social Welfare Benefits Data (26 May 2016)

Leo Varadkar: Information relating to a claimant’s address is not currently coded to the geographical location of the address. As such it is not possible to accurately report on the number of claims pending for each payment in counties Louth and Meath. The average processing time for Social Welfare claims at the end of April is detailed in the following table. Social Welfare claims by average...

Written Answers — Department of Social Protection: Carer's Allowance Delays (26 May 2016)

Leo Varadkar: The Department is committed to ensuring that claims and reviews are processed as expeditiously as possible. Processing times vary across schemes, depending on the differing qualification criteria. Schemes that require a high level of documentary evidence from the customer, particularly in the case of illness, disability and caring schemes, can take longer to process. The details...

Written Answers — Department of Social Protection: State Pension (Contributory) (26 May 2016)

Leo Varadkar: Entitlement to increase for qualified adult (IQA) on a person’s state pension (contributory) is subject to a means test, which assesses weekly income from any source. The increase is only payable where the spouse/civil partner/co-habitant is being wholly or mainly maintained by the claimant. Currently IQA at the maximum rate is payable where the qualified adult’s weekly means...

Written Answers — Department of Social Protection: Social Welfare Benefits Waiting Times (26 May 2016)

Leo Varadkar: I wish to assure the Deputy that prompt processing of claims remains a priority for me. Each scheme area is continuously monitored and reviewed to ensure customers are responded to as quickly as possible. I am pleased to inform the Deputy that the Department has had major success in clearing backlogs especially over the last year in the disability related schemes. Processing times vary...

Written Answers — Department of Social Protection: Carer's Allowance Applications (26 May 2016)

Leo Varadkar: I confirm that the department received an application for carer’s allowance (CA) from the person concerned on 26/01/2016. Some additional information in relation to the person’s application was requested by the deciding officer on 25/05/2016. Once the information is received the application will be processed and the person concerned will be notified directly of the outcome....

Written Answers — Department of Social Protection: Exceptional Needs Payment Data (26 May 2016)

Leo Varadkar: Under the supplementary welfare allowance (SWA) scheme, the Department may make a single exceptional needs payment (ENP) to help meet essential, once-off and unforeseen expenditure which a person could not reasonably be expected to meet out of their weekly income. The Government has provided €30.3 million for the ENP scheme in 2016. The ENP scheme is demand led and payments are made...

Written Answers — Department of Social Protection: Exceptional Needs Payments (26 May 2016)

Leo Varadkar: The person concerned applied for assistance towards payment for a central heating installation on 27/04/2016. Upon assessment of the application and supporting documentation the deciding officer deemed that the person concerned was in a position to provide for the cost of this installation from her own resources and the application was refused. This decision is currently being reviewed by a...

Domestic Water Charges: Motion (Resumed) [Private Members] (25 May 2016)

Leo Varadkar: -----is charging based on the amount of water people use because if people have to pay for the water they waste or if they use excess water, they are much more likely to conserve it than for any other reason. It is the fairest way to charge. People should pay for the water they use, just as they pay for the electricity, gas and fuel they use and the food they eat. We would never suggest...

Domestic Water Charges: Motion (Resumed) [Private Members] (25 May 2016)

Leo Varadkar: I rise to support the Government amendment and to oppose the Sinn Féin motion. Picking up on a theme touched on the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform, it strikes me that, unfortunately, there are two things we discuss when we talk about water in Ireland. One is water policy, which we should talk about, and the other is the old politics, which is very much represented by the...

Other Questions: Jobseeker's Allowance (25 May 2016)

Leo Varadkar: The rate of youth unemployment has halved in the past five years, so somebody must be doing something right. The Deputy is correct that it is still roughly double the unemployment rate for the entire population. It is fairly typical, based on comparisons with other countries, for youth unemployment to be roughly double the rate for the entire adult workforce. That is very much related to...

Other Questions: Jobseeker's Allowance (25 May 2016)

Leo Varadkar: The maximum rate is €100 if the person does not take part in education or training or take up a work placement. If a person takes up one of those options, it is much higher. We should not have people coming out of school being given €188 per week without any requirement or expectation to take up education, training or work. The €100 is paid to people who do not take up...